Study shows what Mozambicans think about civil registration at birth

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Study shows what Mozambicans think about civil registration at birth

1:01 CAT | 25 Jan 2018

File photo. Courtesy of Plan international

The results of a recent study released today in Maputo show that few Mozambicans consider civil registration at birth a fundamental right, with identification documents and school enrolment the main reasons benefits cited by respondents.

Civil registration remains a little-ingrained habit in Mozambique, and is being encouraged with the support of international partners who conducted a survey on the subject between August and September last year.

The study is part of the project of Social Mobilisation for Strengthening Birth Registration Services in Mozambique, expected to reach 1.4 million inhabitants.

To achieve this, the National Directorate of Registries and Notaries is funded by Canada and also relies on technical assistance from Save the Children and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“Birth registration coverage rates in Mozambique remain low. Most unregistered children are from poorer households, and are at the highest risk of abuse and exploitation,” the report says.

The study covered six districts in Zambézia, Nampula and Gaza provinces (Morrumbala, Milange, Ribaué, Nampula city, Xai-Xai and Guija), and concluded that “large numbers of participants have already heard about birth registration”.

However, “the respondents relate the importance of registration to aspects related to their immediate needs”, in which “76.7 percent mentioned the acquisition of identification document and 75.7 percent school enrolment” as justifications.

Aspects such as recognition in statistics (25.7 percent), Mozambican citizenship (23.3 percent) or fundamental rights of the child (17.4 percent) were little mentioned.

The results of the research also show that “the communities covered have several alternative means to register births, as opposed to limited alternatives for recording deaths in administrative locations or posts away from conservatories”.

There have been “free accelerated registration campaigns”, but state services lack resources. “Civil Registry Offices and Provincial Registries and Notarial Offices face limited physical resources and human resources,” the report says.

The presentation of the study took place this morning (Thursday) at Hotel Vip in Maputo.

Source: Lusa